Scale head



y 1935. L. .5. scHuMAcKER ET AL 2,006,370

SCALE HEAD Filed Aug. 27, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet l m Y W A $25; Y W. B E F SCALE HEAD Filed Aug. 27, l932 4 Shee'tsSheet 2 'ATTORN EY y 1935 L. J. SCHUMACKER ET AL 2,0063% SCALE HEAD Filed Aug. 27, 1932 4 Sheets-Shet 4 gV' TORS Wf' y Patented July 2, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SCALE HEAD Application August 27,

6 Claims.

This case relates to weighing scales and particularly to the type known as computing drum scales.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel .5 illuminating head or cowl for drum scales.

An object is further to provide a one-piece sheet metal stamped illuminating cowl for a drum scale.

Still further, an object is to provide such an illuminating head with means for removably supporting a sign to be viewed by the customer.

Another object is to provide a novel support in the illuminating head for a reading device for the chart computations or the merchants side of the scale.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will be obvious from the following particular description of one form of mechanism embodying the invention or from an inspection of the accompanying drawings; and the invention also constitutes certain new and novel features of construction and combination of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side view of the scale with the upper part sectioned to show the interior structure;

Fig. 2 is a front view of the scale head at the customers side;

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a detail top view of a part of the illuminating cowl;

Fig. 6 is a side view of the cowl;

Fig. '7 is a front detail view of part of the scale head partly in section from the mechants side;

Figs. 8 and 9 are detail views of the sign and sign holder;

Fig. 10 is a detail section of the head to show the fastening of the lamp hood to the drum case; and

Fig. 11 is a detail view of a modification of the sign device.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the platform If! is mounted on spider ll bearing on base lever l2 connected at the nose end to draft rod l3. The latter is hooked to zero adjustment block M which carries the U-bar l5 for connection to counterbalance springs I6 and equalizer bar I! for connection to racks l8. The latter drives the drum chart (not shown) which is mounted in bearings I9 to rotate the dum chart 20. There is a spring l6, rack I 8, bearing l9, and a frame 22 for mounting these parts at each end of the drum chart, only one of each being herein shown for purposes of illustration. The

1932, Serial No. 630,624

scale housing comprises a base casing 24, a column casing 25 with a T-head 26, and lower drum halves 21. The latter have integral expanded elongated window portions 28 which carry the reading lenses 29. Behind each lens is a unit -5 price face 30 and in back of each face is an index line or zero line 3|.

For further details of the above construction, attention is called to Patent No. 1,690,258.

In connection with the present invention, a chart is used having duplicate sets of price computations one set for the merchant and the other set for the customer viewed through their respective lenses 29. However, the invention is applicable to any drum type of scale regardless of whether the chart contains price, weight, article counter values, or other computations.

The illuminating head 35 in the instant invention is stamped to shape from a'single piece of sheet metal. It includes a hood 36 overhanging the merchants side which may be termed the merchants illuminating hood, cowl, or visor and an extension 31 in the shape of a break overhanging the customers side which may be termed the customers illuminating hood, cowl, or visor.

Welded to the inner faces of the opposite sides of the illuminating visors 36 and 31 are angle pieces 38, each having one leg 39 projecting inwardly and having a screw fastening 40 to the upper drum half 4|, the latter being secured by screws 42 to the end frames 22. The entire illuminating head may be removed from or applied as a unit to any suitable drum type scale merely by providing the screw connections 40 to the drum chart casing.

The visors 36 and 31 also have welded to the interior surfaces of their opposite sides brackets 43 to which are secured by screws 44 the angle pieces 45 to the vertical sides of which are fastened the lamp sockets 46 for carrying lamps 41.

To the opposite sides of the merchants visor are also welded similar lugs 48 having holes 49 for receiving the ends of a round rod 51. Rod 52 slidably carries a magnifying glass and frame therefor 53 for assisting the merchant in reading any of the value columns of the chart. The magnifying device consisting of rod 52 and the magnifying glass and its frame is intended as a unitary attachment which may be applied to a scale already in use and previously sold or may be 50 furnished with the scale when sold. The same illuminating head 35 is intended to be applied to all illuminated type scales regardless of whether the magnifying device is to be supplied also. Should the magnifying device be desired, all that 55 holds the end 54 in outward extended position.

In applying the reading device, the plunger 55 is first inserted into the hole 49 in one of the lugs 48 and the rod moved in a direction to press the plunger against the adjacent side of the cowl 36. This compresses spring 56 and shortens the rod 52 so that the opposite end of rod 52 may be inserted into hole 49 of the other bracket 48. The spring 56 will then expand the rod so that it will be secured and retained in position.

The customers cowl or visor 31 is adapted to insertably and interchangeably receive one of a plurality of advertising signs 60, preferably made of translucent glass. In order for the cowl 31 to insertably and replaceably receive a sign, it is provided with a guide frame made up of the following: The front of the cowl 31 is cut out to provide an elongated opening 6| directly in front of the lamps 41 within the cowl. The edges 62 of the opening are curled inwardly when the opening 6! is formed to provide a smooth finished surface all along the front of the cowl. The margins 63 surrounding the opening form thefront of the sign receiving frame. In back of margins 63 are a pair of brackets 64, one at each end of cowl 31,. and welded at their lower ends to the lower horizontal margin 63 and at the upper end to the top of the cowl. Welded to the brackets (54 are horizontally extending upper and lower angle strips 65 extendingfrom one bracket 64 to the other and therefore extending substantially the entire width of cowl 31. The strips 65 combine with margins 63 to form a four sided open rectangular guideframe for insertably and slidably receiving a sign, the frame being open centrally to permit lamp 4'! to illuminate the translucent sign and cause the advertising matter thereon to stand out prominently. Further, as may be seen from Fig. 1, the cowl 31 is so formed and arranged relative to the adjacent parts 28 and 29 on the customers side that there is not suificient space between the bottom of the cowl and these parts to permit access to be had to the lamps in the cowl to replace them. However, the lamps are conveniently and readily accessible through the open sign receiving frame when the sign is removed therefrom.

The sign Ell is not directly inserted into the frame, receiver, or guide, rigid with cowl 31 but is preferably mounted on a holder consisting of a four-sided open rectangular plate 61 provided with upper flanges 61' disposed horizontally. Riveted to the left hand vertical side of the frame 6'! (as viewed in Figs. 8 and 9) are the upper and lower short bars or legs 68 and 69 of a U-handle 10.

Upper and lower vertically disposed angular tabs H of spring metal are also secured to the left" vertical side of frame 61 and the front of these tabs extend-in line with the legs 68 and 69 to form front frame portions spaced from the frame El to receive the left hand side of a sign G0. The right hand vertical margin or side of holder 6'! has an integral extension folded to form an angular tab 12 the side of which serves as a wall to engage the right hand vertical edge of the sign glass 60 and limit movethe sign glass.

ment of the sign glass to the right. The front of tab 82 is spaced from the back frame 61 to form a front wall portion for engaging the front of The sides of the tabs H limit movement of the sign glass to the left.

The leg 68 of the handle member has a stud 14 on which is secured a hairpin spring 15, one leg of which engages the inner vertical side of the handle IE1 at its free end and the other leg of which is bent horizontally to engage the left hand vertical edge of the sign glass 60, as may be understood from Figs. 8 and 9. Spring 15 normally urges the sign towards the right and in engagement with the right hand end wall consisting of the side of tab T2.

The sign is thus normally retained in position in a holder which has an open back wall or frame 67, front walls consisting of the front of tabs "H and T2, limiting end walls consisting of the sides of these tabs, and upper and lower horizontally walls consisting of upper and lower flanges '31 of the frame 61. To remove the sign, it is simply necessary to move it to the left against the resistance of spring 15 until clear of tab '72, whereupon it may be moved out of the frame at the right hand end, spring tabs H yielding to permit such movement and then slid to the right out of tabs H and entirely removed from the holder.- In inserting a sign, the process is reversed, the sign being inserted between the tabs 'II and the frame 61 and moved to the left against resistance of the spring 15 until past the free edge of tab 12 whereupon it may he slipped under the tab and spring 15 will move it underneath tab 12 which will hold it firmly in position. I

The horizontally extending margins of the back 6'! have secured thereto elongated leaf springs 11 extending from one end of the sign holder to the other for a purpose which will be hereinbelow explained.

After the selected sign 60 is placed in the holder above described, the assembly of holder and sign is slid into the cowl guide, receiver, or frame consisting of margins 63, brackets 64, and angles 65. The left hand end of the cowl 31 has an entrance opening through which the sign and its holder may be inserted into the cowl guide frame or removed therefrom. The sign holder springs Tl are so bent as to be cammed inwardly by the vertical sides of angles 65 as the sign holder is inserted. When the sign holder is in position in the cowl sign guide frame it is yieldingly and frictionally clamped against movement by pressure of the springs 11 against the vertical sides of angles 65 and by the springs pressing the front of the sign Bl] mounted on the holder against the edges 62 of opening 6|. When fully inserted in the cowl frame, the free vertical edge of tab l2 falls behind the vertical right hand curled edge 62 thus locking the sign holder against accidental removal. The handle ll) contacts the outside of cowl 31 to limit insertion of the sign and holder into the cowl frame. When it is desired to remove the holder, all that is necessary is to press against the front of the sign fill, springs "l'lyielding, to release the tab 12 from the edge 62 and then grasp handle it to pull out the holder and sign. When it is not desired to lock the tab 12 against the edge 62 and instead to merely remove the sign holder by the handle 10 against the frictional and spring resistance of leaf springs 11, the glass 66 is formed with a recess to receive the tab 12, as shown in Fig. 11. l

The lamps 41 are connected in any suitable manner to a source of current and the current is turned on when a load is placed on the platform in a manner well-known to the art.

While there has been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a single modification, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art Without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention therefore to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a scale including a drum chart and load responsive means for operating said chart; the combination of a casing for said chart having an opening through which the chart may be viewed, a one-piece illuminating head removably secured to said casing and having an integral cowl overhanging said opening provided with means extending from the sides for carrying lamps above said opening for illuminating the chart, said cowl having means in front of said lamps and above said opening for insertably and removably receiving an advertising device, the latter being illuminated by the lamps, guarding the lamps, and being removable to provide access for removing or inserting the lamps in the cowl, and the illuminating head, lamps, and advertising device being removable as a unit assembly from the chart casing.

2. In combination, a translucent advertising device, a housing containing illuminating means and having a guide along which said advertising device may be slid endwise into operative position in front of said illuminating means to be illuminated by the latter, said housing having an opening in the side through which the advertising device may be inserted to be slidably moved into operative position on the guide, and resilient means between the guide and the advertising device to assist in retaining the device in the guide.

3, In combination, a translucent advertising device, a housing containing illuminating means and having a guide along which said advertising device may be slid into operative position in front of said illuminating means to be illuminated by the latter, said housing having an opening in one side through which the advertising device may be inserted to be slidably moved into operative position on the guide, and a handle on the advertising device for manipulating it and which is adapted to engage the aforesaid side of said housing to limit insertion of said advertising device into the guide.

4. In combination, a translucent advertising device, a housing containing illuminating means and having a guide along which said advertising device may be slid into operative position in front of said illuminating means to be illuminated by the latter, said housing having an opening in one side through which the advertising device may be inserted to be slidably moved to operative position on the guide, resilient means between the guide and the advertising device to assist in retaining the device on the guide, said device having a part normally held by the resilient means behind a part of the housing to engage therewith for preventing removal of the device, the parts being releasable from each other by pressing on the face of said device against the resistance of said resilient means to permit the device to be slidably removed from the guide.

5. In combination, a sign, a holder for releasably though completely carrying the sign, a guide frame for readily removably receiving the holder and sign as an assembled unit, and yieldable means carried by the holder for engaging the frame to releasably retain the holder and sign in the frame.

6. As a sub-combination, a sign and a holder therefor including an element for engaging the sign to retain it on the holder, resilient means for normally holding the element and sign in engagement, said means being yieldable to permit the sign to be removed from engagement with said element and from the holder, a, frame having a guideway for slidably receiving the holder and an opening for exposing the sign carried by the holder when the latter is in position in said guideway, and resilient means between the holder and frame for releasably retaining the holder with the sign in said guideway.

LEO J. SCHUMACKER. ERNEST A. REUSSENZEHN. 

